Author: Megan Oleksyn

Megan Oleksyn was born and raised near Prince Albert, SK on a large mixed farm. From a young age she was involved in the daily operations of the ranch and developed a passion for agriculture. While attending the College of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan, she became interested in the communications aspect of the agriculture industry. From Saskatoon, she moved to Calgary to pursue a Bachelor of Communications in Public Relations. In 2008, Megan started her own communications consulting company, southpaw communications, through which she works with a diversity of clients conducting full communications audits and then developing communications plans, media packages, sponsorship packages and much more. Currently, Megan is also a Territory Sales Manager with Bayer CropScience, residing in Vermilion, Alta. As a 4-H member for many years, Megan developed a love for showing cattle and has shown and judged purebreds at many large Western Canada events. Megan sits on a diversity of boards within the industry, mostly promoting youth within agriculture. As an advocate for agriculture, she continues to be involved in many facets of both the beef and crop production industries.

By Megan Oleksyn Peas, barley and corn, oh my! Here in Western Canada, there are many different forage crops that can be cost-effectively turned into silage for cattle. High River area rancher, Phil Rowland, comments that silage is €œthe easiest way to put up a consistent quality forage crop in Alberta€™s variable climate conditions.€ And… Read More

By Megan Oleksyn Recently I attended the Western Stock Growers€™ Association€™s (WSGA) summer meeting, this year held in Donalda, AB. Why Donalda, you ask? I asked the same question after I got out my google map and found out just where Donalda was. The answer to €˜why Donalda?€™ really intrigued me. In this small Alberta… Read More

By Megan Oleksyn, It all started as an alternative market for Lanigan, Sk area farmers to sell their grain. It is now a 28,500 head/year feedlot, a 13 million litre ethanol plant and a great asset to the community. Pound-Maker began in 1970, as a 2500 head feedlot so local farmers had an alternative market… Read More

By Megan Oleksyn Many Western Canada farmers are asking themselves €œWhat next?€ After a dry, cold spring and summer, we are now faced with a wet, cold harvest. When the snow first flew two weeks ago, it was expected to melt and disappear. But now, moving into the middle of October, farmers are hoping not… Read More

By Megan Oleksyn From roping and riding to pulling a calf at 40 below, there are many traditions that go along with the ranching lifestyle. Branding livestock is one of those traditions that is still upheld to this day in Alberta. But when did the smell of burning hair become indicative of a tradition? And… Read More